Sony announces new RX0: A 1-inch sensored waterproof 4K multimedia camera
posted Thursday, August 31, 2017 at 8:20 AM EDT
From the most prolific innovators of powerful products in small packages comes a new offering today from Sony in the form of the RX0. Looking like a traditional GoPro, but housing a 1-inch sensor (which has over 4 times the surface area of GoPro and competing sensors) the RX0 aims itself squarely at multimedia creators wanting advanced features and better image quality while still being housed in a tiny waterproof shell.
So, what do you get when you take the guts of an RX100 series camera and cram it into a little waterproof cube?
Quite a bit it seems, at least based on the initial press release. In addition to the 15.3 mp 1-inch sensor housed inside, the camera sports a 24mm equivalent f/4 Zeiss lens and the BIONZ X processor for crunching the numbers and running the internal show. In addition, it has a burst shooting rate up to a swift 16fps.
On the video side of the coin the RX0 is capable of not only 4K video with clean HDMI output but also features such as 960fps super slow-motion. It also sports advanced videographer features such as SLog2 and timecode.
For ruggedness, the RX0 is rated for waterproof depths up to 33 feet (10 meters) and can go ten times that deep with the new, optional HSR1 housing. The camera can be safely dropped from up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) and you can sit on it as long as you weigh less than 440 lbs (200kg). It is only rated for temperatures down to 32 degrees (0 degrees C) where most waterproof cameras are rated for somewhat colder temperatures, so you'll want to keep this one from freezing.
Perhaps the most intriguing feature is the ability to link up to 15 RX0's together and operate them via the optional WRC1M wireless transmitter, or via the PlayMemories app to sync and control up to five units simultanesouly. This can provide the potential to create effects like bullet-time and time-slice, etc, for advanced video and film possibilities.
The Sony RX0 is slated to start shipping in October 2017 for an estimated US$700/CA$900. Stay tuned, as we'll have you more to come from the intriguing RX0!
